A Foundation of Joy

While our Upper Schoolers carve their own unique, winding paths, the Middle School works to provide the very bedrock those paths run on.

This video feature explores how joy, playfulness, and curiosity serve as a critical foundation for learning and development. Conversations with Middle School counselor Kaila Uniacke, sixth grade science teacher Jacqueline Stark, and students Ayan ’30 and Stella ’32 explore why Middle School is an era meant to be wide, not deep. When students feel safe to sample everything without fear of judgment, they build the confidence to take risks, discover new passions, and thrive academically and socially.

Just as geological layers form a solid base over time, a student’s identity and confidence are built layer by layer through these shared, foundational moments of joy, preparing them to chart their journey ahead.